According to estimates from the federal government of Nigeria, 700,000 employment and ₦23 billion may be created if the leather industry is properly used. Idi Maiha, the Minister of Livestock Development, made this claim at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s Annual Lecture on “Food Security in Nigeria, Which Way Forward.” Cattle, beef, dairy, piggery, poultry, fisheries, and sheep are all part of Nigeria’s livestock industry, which Maiha said has the ability to serve both domestic and international markets. After 64 years of neglect, he pointed out, the leather industry is now acknowledged as an important link in the cattle value chain due to the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock.
Nigeria’s plentiful land and water resources, Maiha added, could significantly boost animal output, improving food security, generating employment, and combating poverty. He emphasised that a variety of livestock products, including dairy, beef, hides, skins, bones, and even organic fertilizers, had the potential to be exported. The average Nigerian cow barely yields 1.1 liters of milk, he said, bemoaning the poor performance of the nation’s 150 million cattle, which currently produce significantly less than the global average. The government wants to increase livestock Productivity through improved genetics and shift the industry toward more Private Sector participation to boost economic growth.
It is anticipated to continue growing as a result of rising demand.
Maiha added that, as a result of previous neglect, less than 1% of Nigeria’s 417 grazing zones are inhabited by pastoralists. Although they contribute significantly to the global economy, the leather and cattle industries also confront a number of opportunities and problems. In 2023, the worldwide leather market was estimated to be worth $95 billion. It is anticipated to continue growing as a result of rising demand in industries including furniture, fashion, and automobiles. However, the business is under pressure to be more sustainable, especially given the environmental effects of leather manufacture, which uses a lot of water and requires extensive cattle farming.
Globally, the livestock industry is a significant employer. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 1.3 billion people, including farmers, processors, and suppliers, rely on cattle for their livelihoods. Disease outbreaks, market volatility, and mounting push for more sustainable methods are some of the issues facing the industry despite its size. The increasing demand for cattle products, in particular, needs to be balanced with environmental issues including Greenhouse gas Emissions and deforestation. It has been a top goal to diversify the Economy away from oil and other natural resources in nations with thriving livestock industries, such as Brazil and Argentina.
There have been calls for more responsible land management techniques.
By utilising its extensive agricultural acreage and advancing livestock genetics, Brazil, for example, has emerged as a major supplier of beef. The promotion of “low-carbon” beef production and sustainable land use methods, backed by both private businesses and governmental regulations, is an attempt to counteract this. The growth of the cattle industry is becoming more and more linked to environmental sustainability. There have been calls for more responsible land management techniques as a result of the industry’s contribution to deforestation, especially in the Amazon. Innovations like methane-reducing feed additives have been made possible by the fact that methane emissions from cattle also contribute to climate change.
Leading livestock producing countries’ governments are also supporting efforts to lower carbon footprints, like enacting carbon offset schemes or offering incentives for climate-smart farming methods. A growing trend is tying Livestock Production to national economic objectives, particularly for countries looking to lessen their reliance on exports of minerals or oil. Under their Vision 2030 plans, nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates view investments in sustainable livestock production as a component of a larger Economic Diversification strategy.
Related Article: An Overview of Nigeria’s Leather Industry
Such initiatives could meet the demand for animal-based products worldwide and contribute to the development of more resilient economies. Although there is a lot of economic potential in the livestock industry, its expansion needs to be balanced with initiatives to lessen its negative effects on the environment and to better meet the larger objectives of Sustainability and food security. The development of sustainable technologies, government laws that support ethical farming methods, and private sector engagement in creative solutions that tackle Environmental Stewardship and Economic Growth are the answers.